| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| ITV | 5pm Sun 15 June | SWITZERLAND v ECUADOR | Brasilia |
| BBC | 8pm Sun 15 June | FRANCE v HONDURAS | Porto Alegre |
| ITV | 8pm Fri 20 June | SWITZERLAND v FRANCE | Salvador |
| ITV | 11pm Fri 20 June | HONDURAS v ECUADOR | Curitiba |
| BBC | 9pm Wed 25 June | HONDURAS v SWITZERLAND | Manaus |
| BBC | 9pm Wed 25 June | ECUADOR v FRANCE | Rio de Janeiro |
SWITZERLAND FIFA World ranking 6 - Odds 100/1 - Squad
Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld (since July 2008)
World Cup best: Quarter finals 1934, 1938, 1954
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group E (W7 D3 L0 F17 A6)
Recent form: W1-0 v Jamaica, W2-0 v Peru
Switzerland have surged up the FIFA World rankings in recent times, their seventh place last October even good enough for them to steal the final seeded position. And the improvement should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the previous work of their coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. A seven-time winner of the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the German also won the European Cup with both clubs. But, while Hitzfeld's reign at Switzerland did not get off to the best of starts with an early embarrassing defeat to Luxembourg and a failure to qualify for Euro 2012, the campaign for 2014 went much better with 24 points accrued out of 30. Having said that, the quality of their opponents - Iceland, Slovenia, Norway, Albania and Cyprus - left much to be desired, and it remains to be seen exactly how the Swiss will cope when the competition takes a step up in the form of France and then perhaps Argentina.
Prediction: Last 16
ECUADOR FIFA World ranking 26 - Odds 150/1 - Squad
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda (since July 2010)
World Cup best: Last 16 in 2006
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2006
How they qualified: Fourth in South American qualifying (W7 D4 L5 F20 A16)
Recent form: D1-1 v Netherlands, L1-3 v Mexico, D2-2 v England
For a South American country that did not enter the qualifiers until 1962, and then did not first make it to the finals until 2002, Ecuador have an excellent recent record of reaching the World Cup. Qualification this time made it three times out of four - and, playing on their home continent, La Tri will be looking to repeat their finest moment, which came in their last appearance eight years ago. Back then, Ecuador beat Poland and Costa Rica to reach the Last 16 before bowing out to a David Beckham free-kick - but, despite a decent draw, it would be surprise if Reinaldo Ruedo's men made it through this time. After all, progress to the finals was hard won with all seven of Ecuador's wins coming at home where the altitude at their Quito stadium gives them an advantage simply not available to them in Brazil. Perhaps a better guide would their away form which produced a paltry three points from eight matches.
Prediction: Group stage
FRANCE FIFA World ranking 17 - Odds 22/1 - Squad
Coach: Didier Deschamps (since July 2012)
World Cup best: Winners 1998
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Won 3-2 on agg v Ukraine (0-2a, 3-0h) after finishing runners-up in UEFA Group I (W5 D2 L1 F15 A6)
Recent form: W4-0 v Norway, D1-1 v Paraguay, W8-0 v Jamaica
France have some making up to do with their public following the complete debacle four years ago in South Africa where the players went on strike and then went home early with just one goal and one point. Euro 2012 was only marginally better as Les Bleus won just one of their four games leading to Laurent Blanc's resignation - and so, now another of the Class of 98, former skipper Didier Deschamps, holds the reins. Deschamps too has struggled to get the best out of his squad and disaster looked to have struck when Ukraine took a 2-0 lead into the second leg of the playoff. Just one away goal in Paris would have sufficed for the Ukrainians but ultimately France squeezed home 3-2 on aggregate. As luck would have it, the French then landed a pretty kind draw. Nevertheless, not solely qualifying but winning the group ahead of Switzerland must be the focus as avoiding a likely Last 16 clash with Argentina could lead Deschamps' men to a quarter final or perhaps even more following some encouraging warm-up results.
Prediction: Quarter finals
HONDURAS FIFA World ranking 33 - Odds 4000/1 - Squad
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez (since March 2011)
World Cup best: Group stage 1982, 2010
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Third in North-Central American qualifying (W4 D3 L3 F13 A12)
Recent form: L0-2 v Turkey, L2-4 v Israel, D0-0 v England
As a country whose most whose most famous - or maybe infamous - World Cup moment remains a 100-hour war with El Salvador following a qualifier in 1969, Honduras actually made the right sort of history in October. La Bicolor secured the point they required in Jamaica in a 2-2 draw to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup finals for the first time in their history. Eliminated four years ago without scoring, the Central Americans will at least hope to put that right but it would be foolish to expect much more of a team which was actually younger and leaner four years ago. Certainly, the Hondurans will be trouble if they perform anything like they have in some of their warm-up games, losing 2-0 to Turkey and 4-2 to Israel.
Prediction: Group stage
GROUP F ARGENTINA + BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA + IRAN + NIGERIA
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| BBC | 11pm Sun 15 June | ARGENTINA v BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA | Rio de Janeiro |
| BBC | 8pm Mon 16 June | IRAN v NIGERIA | Curitiba |
| ITV | 5pm Sat 21 June | ARGENTINA v IRAN | Belo Horizonte |
| BBC | 11pm Sat 21 June | NIGERIA v BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA | Cuiaba |
| ITV | 5pm Wed 25 June | NIGERIA v ARGENTINA | Porto Alegre |
| ITV | 5pm Wed 25 June | BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA v IRAN | Salvador |
ARGENTINA FIFA World ranking 5 - Odds 4/1 - Squad
Coach: Alejandro Sabella (since August 2011)
World Cup best: Winners 1978, 1986
Last appearance: Quarter finals in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of South American qualifying (W9 D5 L2 F35 A15)
Recent form: W3-0 v Trinidad & Tobago, W2-0 v Slovenia
While the other South American teams competing in Brazil are likely to receive the backing of a good share of the home support, it is almost certainly the case that this offering will not be extended to Argentina. But, rather than being offended by that, La Albiceleste should take it as a compliment - Argentina are a big danger and the Brazilians are simply petrified of failing to win at a home World Cup for a second time. Just about everything is set up for Argentina to do well - the first round draw has been kind and, for the superstitious, Lionel Messi's age - 26 - is the same as Diego Maradona's when he produced a series of brilliant individual displays on the way to help the Argentines to their last World Cup win in 1986. A Messi masterclass at a World Cup finals, where he has scored just once back in 2006, is long overdue - but it should be remembered that the Barcelona maestro also has a fine supporting cast in Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain. As has often been the case with recent World Cups, it is at the other end of the pitch where the concerns lie.
Prediction: Runners-up
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FIFA World ranking 21 - Odds 150/1 - Squad
Coach: Safet Susic (since December 2009)
World Cup best: Never previously qualified
Last appearance: N/A
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group G (W8 D1 L1 F30 A6)
Recent form: W2-1 v Ivory Coast, W1-0 v Mexico
After two close calls - both ending in the same way with defeat to Portugal in the playoffs - Bosnia-Herzegovina have at last made it to a tournament finals. And what better place to start than in Brazil for the World Cup! This time, the Bosnians ensured they did not to need the playoffs, scoring 30 goals to finish well clear ahead of Greece on goal difference after they both finished with 25 points from 10 matches. Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko contributed 10 of those goals and he was well supported by his strike partner, Stuttgart's Vedad Ibisevic, who himself hit eight. But, while the attacking tactics of Safet Susic are laudable and entertaining, they can potentially leave The Dragons looking foolish at the back. Whatever happens, though, Bosnia will surely just enjoy providing a completely different impression of their country to the war-ravaged mess broadcast to the world in the mid-1990s. This young country has come a long way.
Prediction: Group stage
IRAN FIFA World ranking 43 - Odds 3000/1 - Squad
Coach: Carlos Queiroz (since April 2011)
World Cup best: Group stage 1978, 1998, 2006
Last appearance: Group stage in 2006
How they qualified: Winners of Asian Group A (W5 D1 L2 F8 A2)
Recent form: D0-0 v Belarus, D0-0 v Montenegro, D1-1 v Angola, W2-0 v Trinidad & Tobago
Iran arrive in Brazil as the highest-ranked Asian team as they seek a place in the World Cup knockout stages for the first time at the fourth attempt. Their Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz is under no illusions that it will be tough ask, however. Political and economic sanctions have affected preparations with opponents simply unwilling to travel to Tehran, meaning that their warm-up games have taken place in the Austrian Alps. Nevertheless, Team Melli will retain some optimism on the strength of a solid defence which conceded just twice in eight games in the final qualifying round. The main issue, though, is at the other end where they scored just a goal per game in that group and relied on Reza Ghoochannejhad of struggling Championship club Charlton Athletic to provide their main threat. Queiroz has his work cut out.
Prediction: Group stage
NIGERIA FIFA World ranking 44 - Odds 200/1 - Squad
Coach: Stephen Keshi (since November 2011)
World Cup best: Last 16 in 1994, 1998
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Won 4-1 on agg v Ethiopia (2-1a, 2-0h) after winning African Group F (W3 D3 L0 F7 A3)
Recent form: D2-2 v Scotland, D0-0 v Greece, L1-2 v United States
Reigning African champions Nigeria head to Brazil cautiously optimistic of an appearance in the knockout stages for the first time since 1998. Victory in the African Cup of Nations not only restored some much-needed confidence but it also presented coach Stephen Keshi and his squad with the opportunity to test themselves out in Brazilian conditions at the Confederations Cup last summer. Yes, the defeats to Uruguay and Spain suggest the Super Eagles will still struggle against real top class opposition - but the experience could ultimately prove vital in deciding the runners-up spot behind the assumed group winners Argentina, especially against tournament first-timers Bosnia-Herzegovina. Nigeria face Iran first, though, and a good start against a team ranked just a single place above them will be required to set up that second game against the Bosnians as a chance to advance.
Prediction: Last 16
GROUP G GERMANY + PORTUGAL + GHANA + UNITED STATES
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| ITV | 5pm Mon 16 June | GERMANY v PORTUGAL | Salvador |
| BBC | 11pm Mon 16 June | GHANA v UNITED STATES | Natal |
| BBC | 8pm Sat 21 June | GERMANY v GHANA | Fortaleza |
| BBC | 11pm Sun 22 June | UNITED STATES v PORTUGAL | Manaus |
| BBC | 5pm Thu 26 June | UNITED STATES v GERMANY | Recife |
| BBC | 5pm Thu 26 June | PORTUGAL v GHANA | Brasilia |
GERMANY FIFA World ranking 2 - Odds 5/1 - Squad
Coach: Joachim Low (since July 2006)
World Cup best: Winners 1954, 1974, 1990
Last appearance: Semi finals in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group C (W9 D1 L0 F36 A10)
Recent form: D0-0 v Poland, D2-2 v Cameroon, W6-1 v Armenia
As ridiculous as it is for an Englishman to refer to the Germans as "chokers", at the same time it is difficult to entirely ignore recent history. Without a tournament win in 18 years and without a single World Cup as a united country, the Nationalmannschaft are under pressure to put recent disappointments behind them. The Germans' tournament record generally is, of course, still utterly enviable - even a terribly weak team in 2002 scrambled their way through to the World Cup final on the back of several 1-0 wins. And, though that side then failed at Euro 2004, Germany - since reaching the semi finals as hosts in 2006 - have lost in the Euro 2008 final and also fallen in the semis in both 2010 and 2012. Constantly losing these titanic clashes is becoming rather wearing, though - and yet most accept it would be a surprise if they broke their duck at a World Cup held in South America. With a big game against Portugal up first, it will be established pretty quickly if Joachim Low's team have the character to shed their unwanted nearly men tag.
Prediction: Semi finals
PORTUGAL FIFA World ranking 4 - Odds 20/1 - Squad
Coach: Paulo Bento (since October 2010)
World Cup best: Semi finals 1966, 2006
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: W4-2 v Sweden on agg (1-0h, 3-2a) after finishing runners-up in UEFA Group F (W6 D3 L1 F20 A9)
Recent form: D0-0 v Greece, W1-0 v Mexico, W5-1 v Republic of Ireland
Regularly flattering to deceive in the run-up to a tournament, Portugal have actually failed to top a qualifying group since 2005. Yet, in that time, the Selecao still have a reasonable tournament record, reaching semi finals at World Cup 2006 and Euro 2012 and never at least failing to advance from the group stage. Here, a continuation of that record will not be straightforward - for a start, the first match is against Germany who beat the Portuguese in a memorable 2008 quarter final. Meanwhile, the United States and Ghana are both no strangers to reaching the knockout stage either. Having said all of that, the team will enjoy good support against all of their opponents from the Portuguese-speaking Brazilian crowds. And it would be a big shock if the number four-ranked team failed to make it out of the group, particularly with the 29-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo set to hit his peak.
Prediction: Last 16
GHANA FIFA World ranking 37 - Odds 200/1 - Squad
Coach: Kwesi Appiah (since July 2012)
World Cup best: Quarter finals 2010
Last appearance: Quarter finals in 2010
How they qualified: W7-3 v Egypt on agg (6-1h, 1-2a) after winning African Group D (W5 D0 L1 F18 A3)
Recent form: L0-1 v Netherlands, W4-0 v South Korea
Ghana have made it out of the group stages in both of the World Cup finals which they have attended - but the draw has made it tough for the Black Stars to make it three in a row. Of course, the Ghanaians are still haunted by their exit in the quarter finals against Uruguay four years ago when Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in the last minute of extra time following Luis Suarez's handball on the line. And while Ghana did have another chance in the shoot-out, the shell-shocked team unsurprisingly bowed out. Since then, disappointment has given way to a steely determination among the squad and this is especially true for Gyan. Former Chelsea libero Michael Essien, who cruelly missed out four years ago through injury, is another who will be highly motivated. Nevertheless, this still may not be enough against number two-ranked Germany and number four-ranked Portugal.
Prediction: Group stage
UNITED STATES FIFA World ranking 13 - Odds 250/1 - Squad
Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann (since July 2011)
World Cup best: Semi finals 1930
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of North-Central American qualifying (W7 D1 L2 F15 A8)
Recent form: W2-0 v Azerbaijan, W2-1 v Turkey, W2-1 v Nigeria
Well, it has happened again - the United States have been drawn against bogey side Ghana having lost and gone out to the Africans at the last two World Cups. In 2006, the Americans lost 2-1 in the final round of group games to be left bottom with just a single point - then, in 2010, the pair met in the Last 16 where the Ghanaians won 2-1 again but only after Asamoah Gyan's extra time goal. Nothing will be ultimately decided as a result of the match this time, given that it is the opening game - but, with Portugal and Jurgen Klinsmann's native Germany to come, another defeat would leave the Americans with the proverbial mountain to climb. A strong qualifying performance saw USA easily top the CONCACAF standings with seven wins from 10 games, including a clean sweep at home. But this may have perhaps raised expectations a little too high, considering the hopeless Jozy Altidore will lead the line.
Prediction: Group stage
GROUP H BELGIUM + ALGERIA + RUSSIA + SOUTH KOREA
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| ITV | 5pm Tue 17 June | BELGIUM v ALGERIA | Belo Horizonte |
| BBC | 11pm Tue 17 June | RUSSIA v SOUTH KOREA | Cuiaba |
| BBC | 5pm Sun 22 June | BELGIUM v RUSSIA | Rio de Janeiro |
| ITV | 8pm Sun 22 June | SOUTH KOREA v ALGERIA | Porto Alegre |
| ITV | 9pm Thu 26 June | SOUTH KOREA v BELGIUM | Sao Paulo |
| ITV | 9pm Thu 26 June | ALGERIA v RUSSIA | Curitiba |
BELGIUM FIFA World ranking 11 - Odds 16/1 - Squad
Coach: Marc Wilmots (since May 2012)
World Cup best: Semi finals 1986
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2002
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group A (W8 D2 L0 F18 A4)
Recent form: W5-1 v Luxembourg, W2-0 v Sweden, W1-0 v Tunisia
Belgium are back with a bang. After bowing out at the Last 16 stage against eventual winners Brazil in 2002, the Diables Rouges went strangely missing without trace for the best part of a decade, failing to qualify for anything. A new generation, absolutely brimming with talent, has now emerged with many faces familiar to Premier League viewers. Indeed, such is the quality of this batch of players that the seeded Belgians have been seemingly bestowed with the 'dark horses' cliché from all and sundry. In fairness, it would rank as a considerable shock if a team featuring the likes of Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku could not at least get through this kindly section - and, while progress into the last week of the tournament will be difficult, with this team it is eminently possible.
Prediction: Quarter finals
ALGERIA FIFA World ranking 22 - Odds 2000/1 - Squad
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic (since July 2011)
World Cup best: Group stage 1982, 1986, 2010
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Won on away goals in 3-3 v Burkina Faso (2-3a, 1-0h) after winning African Group H (W5 D0 L1 F13 A4)
Recent form: W3-1 v Armenia, W2-1 v Romania
Algeria have repeated their feat from the 1980s by qualifying for consecutive World Cups - but it must be hoped that the North Africans show rather more ambition than they did four years ago. The highlight of their tournament then was undoubtedly the 0-0 draw against England which kept the possibility of progress to the Last 16 alive until the final round of games. While never looking like achieving knockout football, the Fennec Foxes did come within minutes of a second 0-0 against United States. Ultimately, though, Algeria exited the tournament still waiting for their first World Cup finals goal since 1986, a streak which has lasted five group games and counting. That, at least, must surely come to an end in this fairly modest group.
Prediction: Group stage
RUSSIA FIFA World ranking 19 - Odds 40/1 - Squad
Coach: Fabio Capello (since July 2012)
World Cup best: Group stage 1994, 2002
Last appearance: Group stage in 2002
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group F (W7 D1 L2 F20 A5)
Recent form: W1-0 v Slovakia, D1-1 v Norway, W2-0 v Morocco
Since the break-up of the former Soviet Union, Russia have struggled to make much of an impression on world football, qualifying for just six out of 10 tournaments prior to World Cup 2014, and advancing to the knockout stages just once. That was back at Euro 2008 when Andrei Arshavin spearheaded a run to the semi finals - but the former Arsenal man has been a fading force for some time and has not made Fabio Capello's squad. Instead, Russian hopes effectively now lie with Dynamo Moscow striker Alexander Kokorin who is likely to play on his own up front. The draw, of course, offers a good chance for Russia to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time and even a place in the Last 16 would be an important milestone in the development of this team. After all, it is more realistically being prepared for the home World Cup in 2018 when a first round exit most certainly would not suffice.
Prediction: Group stage
SOUTH KOREA FIFA World ranking 57 - Odds 500/1 - Squad
Coach: Hong Myung-bo (since July 2013)
World Cup best: Semi finals 2002
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: Runners-up of Asian Group A (W4 D2 L2 F13 A7)
Recent form: L0-1 v Tunisia, L0-4 v Ghana
Traditionally one of the continent's powerhouses, having now made it to eight successive World Cup finals, South Korea actually struggled through Asian qualifying, losing at home and away to Iran and drawing away to Lebanon and Uzbekistan in the final round-robin stage. Four wins in their other matches were still enough for a runners-up spot and an automatic place in the finals but it was an altogether far from convincing show from the Taeguk Warriors. Then-coach Choi Kang-Hee stepped down as had already been arranged anyway and suggested a foreign coach should lead the team to the finals. However, the Korean FA ignored his advice and continued their recent approach of appointing a Korean. Their choice was not just any Korean, though - it was Hong Myung-bo, the captain of the team which enthralled the nation as they reached the semi finals of their own World Cup in 2002. Now Hong will be looking to rub some of his magic onto the new generation in this very open first round group.
Prediction: Last 16
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